Islamabad, 26th January 2026: The Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC) strongly rejects the misleading, selective, and factually inaccurate narrative presented in the press and clarifies its inspection and Transparent and corruption-free Recognition Process. The news floating omits critical legal and procedural facts and creates an unjustified impression of regulatory failure, whereas the record clearly reflects that PM&DC has acted lawfully, transparently, and responsibly since its reconstitution under the PM&DC Act, 2022.
The 15 medical and dental colleges were granted unlawful provisional recognition during 2019–20 by the erstwhile Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC), in clear violation of applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The reconstituted PM&DC Council, under the PM&DC Act, 2022, immediately suspended further student intake in these institutions as a corrective and fair measure, pending inspection and final determination. This step was taken to protect students’ interests and restore regulatory discipline. Simultaneously, the Ministry of National Health Services referred the matter to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate irregularities and fix responsibility. During this period, the Islamabad High Court directed PM&DC to continue the inspection process pending the outcome of the FIA inquiry.
Prior to undertaking inspections, PM&DC ensured that all codal and mandatory prerequisites, including legal and financial requirements, were fulfilled. Out of the 15 colleges, 11 have been duly inspected over the last two years, inspection of one college is being scheduled, while three colleges have not been inspected to date solely because they failed to meet mandatory prerequisites despite being afforded due opportunity. These institutions will be inspected as soon as they comply with the prescribed mandatory prerequisites, in line with the same uniform, transparent, and merit-based process applied across the board. Claims suggesting selective treatment or arbitrary decision-making are therefore without basis.
Under the prevailing legal framework, recognition notifications are issued by the Federal Government following approval of the Federal Cabinet, and this process lies beyond the administrative control of PM&DC. For colleges that successfully qualified inspections, notification requests were duly forwarded to the Ministry in accordance with the law. One college has been notified, while six remain pending. Any attempt to attribute delays in notifications to the Council is therefore factually incorrect.
The credibility of the inspection process remains beyond question. PM&DC’s inspections are conducted strictly in accordance with globally accepted accreditation practices, involving independent inspection teams, objective assessment criteria, and opportunities for re-inspection where deficiencies are rectifiable. The fact that most institutions qualified only after second-round re-inspections demonstrates the Council’s commitment to maintaining standards rather than diluting them. Allegations of compromised inspections or lack of transparency are unsupported and misleading.
With regard to alleged irregularities, PM&DC has taken due cognizance of the matter. Show-cause notices were issued to employees allegedly involved; however, judicial proceedings are currently underway. Contrary to suggestions in the report, there has been no attempt to conceal information, remove institutions from official records, or avoid accountability.
Assertions that colleges are being allowed to admit students without recognition or in violation of the law are also misleading. PM&DC has consistently enforced stop-intake measures wherever required and has acted to safeguard students’ interests. Some institutions have, however, admitted students based upon various court rulings. Any admissions made without lawful recognition remain subject to judicial scrutiny and corrective regulatory action.
Similarly, claims regarding improper legal representation are unsubstantiated. PM&DC actively pursues all legal cases through authorized counsel and remains committed to defending public interest. It is also pertinent to clarify that while PM&DC sets minimum standards for medical and dental education, affiliating universities are legally obligated to ensure that institutions under their jurisdiction comply with these standards. Regulatory oversight is therefore a shared statutory responsibility, not a unilateral function of the Council alone.
Since the enactment of the PM&DC Act, 2022, and under the leadership of President PM&DC Dr. Rizwan Taj, the Council has undertaken significant reforms aimed at restoring credibility, transparency, and institutional integrity of the PM&DC.
Since the enactment of the PM&DC Act, 2022, and under the leadership of President PM&DC Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj, the Council has undergone a comprehensive institutional transformation. Key reforms include the restoration of global credibility through the award of a 10-year WFME accreditation, the introduction of globally aligned and competency-based accreditation standards, a transparent and merit-driven inspection system, and the complete digitization of licensing, registration, and other applications processes. These reforms have significantly strengthened governance, eliminated discretionary practices, and reinforced public confidence in PM&DC as an independent and credible regulator.
In conclusion, the portrayal of PM&DC as opaque or complicit in regulatory failures is unfounded and contrary to the factual record. The Council has acted responsibly, transparently, and strictly in accordance with the law, and international best practices. PM&DC remains fully committed to safeguarding the quality and integrity of medical and dental education in Pakistan and to ensuring that only institutions meeting prescribed standards are permitted to operate, in the best interest of students, the profession, and public health.
